Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held the 1st meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, discussions took place on an expert committee, the management of the Headquarters, and the way to advance deliberations in the future.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "Regarding Japan's space development programs, our successive launches of H2A rockets have been successful, thanks to the efforts of those concerned over the long years. The efforts are bearing fruit in such forms as the start of operation of "Kibo," Japan's laboratory module in space. Against this backdrop, the Strategic Headquarters for Space Development was inaugurated following the establishment of the Space Basic Law in May and its enactment in August. It is important that the Headquarters proceeds with space development and uses it to improve the people's lives and to build a society in which the people can live safely with a sense of reassurance. It is also important that we, through the Headquarters, actively promote activities such as the development of the space industry, space development, and international cooperation in space development. Now that the Space Basic Law has been enacted, I ask the entire Government to work cooperatively on the compilation of the space development strategy and the promotion of an integrated policy."